Method of identifying modulators of presenilin

ABSTRACT

A method of identifying a modulator of presenilin function, the method comprising: (i) providing (a) a polypeptide capable of binding a presenilin, which polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functional variant thereof, or a fragment of either thereof which is capable of binding to presenilin; (b) a presenilin or a variant thereof or a fragment of either thereof capable of binding to a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) a test substance under conditions that would permit binding of a polypeptide (a) to a presenilin (b) in the absence of the test substance; (ii) monitoring presenilin mediated activity; and (iii) determining thereby whether the test substance is a modulator of presenilin activity, a modulator identified by a method of the invention and the use thereof in the treatment of Alzheimer&#39;s disease.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to methods of identifying modulators of presenilin or KIAA0253 or variants thereof and their use in the treatment of conditions in which abnormal activity of presenilin or KIAA0253 is implicated such as Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Presenilin 1 and the closely related presenilin 2 (PS1 and PS2) are membrane proteins predicted to span the membrane eight times. Presenilins are ubiquitously expressed at low levels and are located within the cell primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus, although presenilins have been localized to the plasma membrane in neuronal cells and COS-7 cells as well as to neuronal large dense-core granules and clathrin coated vesicles. Co-localization of PS-1 with kinetochores on the inner nuclear membrane has also been observed. Most cases of early onset familial Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are caused by mutations in the presenilin I gene. Presenilins play a role in the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) which is also implicated in early onset AD (reviewed by Selkoe, 1998, Trends in Cell Biol. 8: 447-53). Co-immunoprecipitation experiments have shown that PS1 and PS2 interact directly with the immature forms of APP in the ER where the disease-associated amyloid β1-42 peptide (Aβ42) is probably generated (Xia et al., 1997. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 8208-13; Weidemann et al., 1997, Nat. Med. 3: 328-32). Links between presenilin function and the generation of Aβ42 via intra-membrane cleavage processing of APP have been clearly demonstrated in transgenic mouse models. Presenilins may play a role in the cleavage of APP through interaction with the as yet unidentified protease termed γ-secretase or, as has recently been suggested presenilins could be the γ-secretase themselves (reviewed in Haass and Mandelkow, 1999, Trends in Cell Biol. 9: 241-244).

[0003] Presenilin is also involved in other biological pathways. One report suggests that PSI directly binds tau and a tau kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) and proposes that the increased association of GSK-3beta with mutant PS1 leads to increased phosphorylation of tau (Takashima et al. 1998, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 9: 9637-41).

[0004] Presenilins are also known to play an important role in Notch signalling during early embryonic development and/or cellular differentiation (reviewed by Anderton 1999, Curr. Biol. 9: 106-9). At least one recent report claims a direct interaction between Notch1 and PS1. These results might suggest that the genetic relationship between presenilins and the Notch signalling pathway derives from a direct physical association between these proteins in the secretory pathway (Ray et al., 1999, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 3263-8).

[0005] Presenilins have also been demonstrated to interact with members of the armadillo protein family which are characterised by a series of 42 amino acid imperfect repeats that have been implicated in protein-protein interactions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is based on a novel direct action between a presenilin and a protein, KIAA0253.

[0007] The DNA and predicted amino acid sequence of KIAA0253 have been previously deposited in public domain databases but this gene product has not previously been identified at the protein level, its function was previously unknown and it has not previously been shown to interact with presenilin.

[0008] The interaction between presenilin and KIAA0253 provides a new therapeutic intervention point in disorders involving defective presenilin function, and more specifically in Alzheimer's disease. In addition KIAA0253 is now proposed as a target for identifying agents which may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

[0009] Accordingly the invention provides:

[0010] a method of identifying a modulator of presenilin function, the method comprising:

[0011] (i) providing

[0012] (a) a polypeptide capable of binding a presenilin, which polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functional variant thereof or a functional fragment of either thereof which is capable of binding to a presenilin;

[0013] (b) a presenilin or a variant thereof or a fragment of either thereof capable of binding to a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and

[0014] (c) a test substance under conditions that would permit binding of (a) to (b) in the absence of (c);

[0015] (ii) monitoring presenilin mediated activity; and

[0016] (iii) determining thereby whether the test substance is a modulator of presenilin activity.

[0017] In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for identification of a compound that modulates KIAA0253 activity, which method comprises:

[0018] (i) contacting a KIAA0253 polypeptide comprising

[0019] (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; or

[0020] (b) a variant thereof or a fragment of either thereof which maintains a KIAA0253 function; with a test compound and

[0021] (ii) monitoring for KIAA0253 activity thereby determining whether the test compound is a modulator of KIAA0253.

[0022] The invention also provides:

[0023] a modulator identifiable by a method according to the invention for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

[0024] use of a modulator identifiable by a method according to the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of Alzheimer's disease.

[0025] a polypeptide capable of binding a presenilin, which polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant or fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 which is capable of binding presenilin or a KIAA0253 polypeptide as defined above for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

[0026] a polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide as defined above comprising:

[0027] (a) the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; or

[0028] (b) a sequence that hybridizes to the complement of SEQ ID NO: 2; or

[0029] (c) a sequence that is degenerate as a result of the genetic code with respect to a sequence defined in (a) or (b); or

[0030] (d) a sequence that is complementary to a polynucleotide defined in (a), (b) or (c);

[0031] for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

[0032] use of a polypeptide or polynucleotide as defined above in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment, prophylaxis or diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCES

[0033] SEQ ID NO: 1 is the amino acid sequence of KIAA0253.

[0034] SEQ ID NO: 2 comprises the amino acid sequence and encoding polynucleotide of KIAA0253.

[0035] SEQ ID NO: 3 is the amino acid sequence of KIAA0253 without the predicted N-terminal signal sequence.

[0036] SEQ ID NO: 4 is the amino acid sequence of presenilin 1.

[0037] SEQ ID NO: 5 is the amino acid and encoding polynucleotide sequence of presenilin 1.

[0038] SEQ ID NO: 6 is the amino acid sequence of presenilin 2.

[0039] SEQ ID NO: 7 is the amino acid and encoding polynucleotide sequence of presenilin 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] The invention provides a method for identifying a modulator of presenilin activity or a modulator of KIAA0253 activity. A modulator may modulate the interaction between a presenilin and a KIAA0253 isoform.

[0041] A presenilin for use in accordance with the invention herein referred to as presenilin (b) may comprise a naturally occuring presenilin such as PS-1 or PS-2 having the amino acid sequence of SED ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 6 or may comprise a variant or fragment of such a naturally occuring presenilin, for example an unidentified isoform or splice variant which is homologous to or retains the desired function of a known presenilin. Such a variant or fragment of presenilin for use in the invention is one which is capable of binding to KIAA0253 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0042] A polypeptide of the invention or for use in accordance with the invention is one which capable of binding presenilin. The polypeptide, herein referred to as polypeptide (a) is a KIAA0253 isoform having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functional variant or a functional fragment or either thereof. A variant may comprise a naturally occuring isoform or splice variant. A variant or fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 for use in accordance with the invention is capable of binding to presenilin and in particular presenilin 1.

[0043] To determine whether a variant or fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 is capable of binding to a presenilin the variant or fragment can be contacted with a presenilin under conditions suitable for the formation of a complex between KIAA0253 and presenilin. Similarly, to determine whether a presenilin, or variant or fragment thereof is capable of binding to KIAA0253, the presenilin or fragment thereof can be contacted with KIAA0253 under conditions suitable for the formation of a complex between KIAA0253 and presenilin. Any one of the assays described herein can be carried out in the absence of a test substance to determine the binding capabilities of these proteins.

[0044] Proteins with naturally occurring amino acid sequences are preferred for use in the assays. Preferred proteins are human proteins but homologues from other mammalian species, or other animal species may be used. Any allelic variant or species homologue of the defined proteins may be used. References to a variant of the protein as described below relates to a variant of a presenilin or KIAA0253. For all the proteins described herein for use in an assay of the invention, the ability of the variant to bind KIAA0253 or presenilin as appropriate is preferably maintained.

[0045] Allelic variants and species homologues can be obtained by following the procedures described herein for the identification and production of proteins that bind KIAA0253 or a presenilin as appropriate. It is also possible to use a nucleic acid probe as described herein to probe libraries made from human or other animal cells in order to obtain clones encoding allelic or species variants. The clones can be manipulated by conventional techniques to generate a polypeptide which can then be produced by recombinant or synthetic techniques known in the art.

[0046] Polypeptides that have been artificially mutated but retain KIAA0253 or presenilin binding activity or other KIAA0253 or presenilin activity may also be used in the invention. Such mutants may be generated by techniques well known in the art, including site directed mutagenesis, random mutagenesis and restriction enzyme digestion and ligation. A protein for use in the invention preferably has at least 60% sequence identity to a natural protein, more preferably at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 97% or at least 99% sequence identity thereto over a region of at least 20, preferably at least 30, for instance at least 40, at least 60, at least 100 contiguous amino acids or over the full length of a natural protein. Amino acid substitutions may be made, for example from 1, 2 or 3 to 10, 20 or 30 substitutions. Conservative substitutions may be made, for example according to the following Table. Amino acids in the same block in the second column and preferably in the same line in the third column may be substituted for each other. ALIPHATIC Non-polar GAP ILV Polar-uncharged CSTM NQ Polar-charged DE KR AROMATIC HFWY

[0047] The entire protein sequence of each of the proteins used in the assay may be present. Fragments of the proteins and variants described above that retain the ability to bind to the second component in the binding assay, i.e. presenilin for KIAA0253 and KIAA0253 for presenilin, may also be used in the invention. Alternatively variants or fragments of KIAA0253 which retain a function of KIAA0253 may be used in assays to identify modulators of KIAA0253. Preferred fragments will be at least 30, e.g. at least 100, at least 200, at least 300, at least 400, at least 500 or at least 600 amino acids in size. Preferred presenilin fragments are stable N- and C-terminal fragments that are generated in vivo by endoproteolysis (Capell et al., 1998; Yu et al., 1998). The term “isoform” is used herein to describe such variants and fragments of KIAA0253 or presenilin.

[0048] The polypeptides for use in the invention may be chemically modified, e.g. post-translationally modified. For example, they may be glycosylated or comprise modified amino acid residues. They may also be modified by the addition of a signal sequence to promote their secretion from a cell where the polypeptide does not naturally contain such a sequence. The polypeptides may be tagged to aid detection or purification, for example using a HA, his8, his6, T7, myc or flag tag. Alternatively the polypeptides may be fusion proteins to aid purification or detection, for example, GST-fusion proteins may be used to aid purification from bacteria and GFP-fusion proteins may be used to aid detection. The polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b) may be tagged with different labels which may assist in identification of a KIAA0253/presenilin complex.

[0049] Polypeptides for use in the invention may be in a substantially isolated form. It will be understood that the polypeptide may be mixed with carriers or diluents which will not interfere with the intended purpose of the polypeptide and still be regarded as substantially isolated. A polypeptide for use in the invention may also be in a substantially purified form, in which case it will generally comprise the polypeptide in a preparation in which more than 50%, e.g. more than 80%, 90%, 95% or 99%, by weight of the polypeptide in the preparation is a polypeptide of the invention.

[0050] Polynucleotides

[0051] The invention provides a polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide capable of binding a presenilin, consisting essentially of:

[0052] (a) the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; or

[0053] (b) a sequence that hybridizes to the complement of SEQ ID NO: 2; or

[0054] (c) a sequence that is degenerate as a result of the genetic code with respect to a sequence defined in (a) or (b); or

[0055] (d) a sequence that is complementary to a polynucleotide defined in (a), (b) or (c);

[0056] for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

[0057] Typically a polynucleotide of the invention comprises a contiguous sequence of nucleotides which is capable of hybridizing under selective conditions to the complement of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. Preferably a polynucleotide of the invention encodes a polypeptide which is capable of binding to a presenilin or retains a function of KIAA0253.

[0058] A polynucleotide comprising a sequence that hybridizes to the complement of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 can hydridize at a level significantly above background. Background hybridization may occur, for example, because of other cDNAs present in a cDNA library. The signal level generated by the interaction between a polynucleotide of the invention and the complement of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 is typically at least 10 fold, preferably at least 100 fold, as intense as interactions between other polynucleotides and the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. The intensity of interaction may be measured, for example, by radiolabelling the probe, e.g. with ³²P. Selective hybridisation may typically be achieved using conditions of low stringency (0.3M sodium chloride and 0.03M sodium citrate at about 40° C.), medium stringency (for example, 0.3M sodium chloride and 0.03M sodium citrate at about 50° C.) or high stringency (for example, 0.03M sodium chloride and 0.003M sodium citrate at about 60° C.). However, such hybridization may be carried out under any suitable conditions known in the art (see Sambrook et al., 1989). For example, if high stringency is required, suitable conditions include 0.2×SSC at 60° C. If lower stringency is required, suitable conditions include 2×SSC at 60° C.

[0059] A nucleotide sequence which is capable of selectively hybridizing to the complement of the DNA coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 will generally have at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 over a region of at least 20, preferably at least 30, for instance at least 40, at least 60, more preferably at least 100 contiguous nucleotides or most preferably over the full length of SEQ ID NO: 2. Methods of measuring nucleic acid and protein homology are well known in the art.

[0060] For example the UWGCG Package provides the BESTFIT program which can be used to calculate homology (for example used on its default settings) (Devereux et al (1984) Nucleic Acids Research 12, p387-395). The PILEUP and BLAST algorithms can be used to calculate homology or line up sequences (typically on their default settings), for example as described in Altschul (1993) J. Mol. Evol. 36:290-300; Altschul et al (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-10.

[0061] Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pair (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence that either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighbourhood word score threshold (Altschul et al, 1990). These initial neighbourhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find HSPs containing them. The word hits are extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Extensions for the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLAST program uses as defaults a word length (W) of 11, the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff and Henikoff (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 10915-10919) alignments (B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=4, and a comparison of both strands.

[0062] The BLAST algorithm performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences; see e.g., Karlin and Altschul (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 5873-5787. One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, a sequence is considered similar to another sequence if the smallest sum probability in comparison of the first sequence to the second sequence is less than about 1, preferably less than about 0.1, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.

[0063] Any combination of the above mentioned degrees of sequence identity and minimum sizes may be used to define polynucleotides of the invention, with the more stringent combinations (i.e. higher sequence identity over longer lengths) being preferred. Thus, for example a polynucleotide which has at least 90% sequence identity over 25, preferably over 30 nucleotides forms one aspect of the invention, as does a polynucleotide which has at least 95% sequence identity over 40 nucleotides.

[0064] The coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 may be modified by nucleotide substitutions, for example from 1, 2 or 3 to 10, 25, 50 or 100 substitutions. The polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 2 may alternatively or additionally be modified by one or more insertions and/or deletions and/or by an extension at either or both ends. The modified polynucleotide generally encodes a protein that can bind a presenilin. Degenerate substitutions may be made and/or substitutions may be made which would result in a conservative amino acid substitution when the modified sequence is translated, for example as shown in the Table above.

[0065] Polynucleotides of the invention may comprise DNA or RNA. They may also be polynucleotides which include within them synthetic or modified nucleotides. A number of different types of modification to polynucleotides are known in the art. These include methylphosphonate and phosphorothioate backbones, addition of acridine or polylysine chains at the 3′ and/or 5′ ends of the molecule. For the purposes of the present invention, it is to be understood that the polynucleotides described herein may be modified by any method available in the art. Such modifications may be carried out in order to enhance the in vivo activity or lifespan of polynucleotides of the invention.

[0066] Polynucleotides according to the invention may be produced recombinantly, synthetically, or by any means available to those of skill in the art. They may also be cloned by standard techniques. The polynucleotides are typically provided in isolated and/or purified form.

[0067] Although in general the techniques mentioned herein are well known in the art, reference may be made in particular to Sambrook et al, 1989, Molecular Cloning: a laboratory manual.

[0068] A polynucleotide may be an essential component in an assay of the invention, a probe (or template for designing a probe) for identifying proteins that may be used in the invention or a test compound. The nucleotides according to the invention have utility in production of the proteins according to the invention, which may take place in vitro, in vivo or ex vivo. The nucleotides may be involved in recombinant protein synthesis or indeed as therapeutic agents in their own right, utilised in gene therapy techniques. Antisense sequences, may also be used in gene therapy, such as in strategies for down regulation of expression of the proteins of the invention. The invention further provides double stranded polynucleotides comprising a polynucleotide for use in the invention and its complement for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

[0069] Probes and other fragments will preferably be at least 10, preferably at least 15 or at least 20, for example at least 25, at least 30 or at least 40 nucleotides in length. They will typically be up to 40, 50, 60, 70, 100 or 150 nucleotides in length. Probes and fragments can be longer than 150 nucleotides in length, for example up to 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 nucleotides in length, or even up to a few nucleotides, such as five or ten nucleotides, short of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0070] Polynucleotides of the invention or for use in the invention can be inserted into expression vectors. Such expression vectors are routinely constructed in the art of molecular biology and may for example involve the use of plasmid DNA and appropriate initiators, promoters, enhancers and other elements, such as for example polyadenylation signals which may be necessary and which are positioned in the correct orientation, in order to allow for protein expression. Other suitable vectors would be apparent to persons skilled in the art. By way of further example in this regard we refer to Sambrook et al.

[0071] Polynucleotides according to the invention may also be inserted into the vectors described above in an antisense orientation in order to provide for the production of antisense RNA. Antisense RNA or other antisense polynucleotides may also be produced by synthetic means. Such antisense polynucleotides may be used as test compounds in the assays of the invention or may be useful in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

[0072] Preferably, a polynucleotide of the invention or for use in the invention in a vector is operably linked to a control sequence which is capable of providing for the expression of the coding sequence by the host cell, i.e. the vector is an expression vector. The term “operably linked” refers to a juxtaposition wherein the components described are in a relationship permitting them to function in their intended manner. A regulatory sequence, such as a promoter, “operably linked” to a coding sequence is positioned in such a way that expression of the coding sequence is achieved under conditions compatible with the regulatory sequence.

[0073] Vectors of the invention or for use in the invention may be transformed into a suitable host cell as described above to provide for expression of a polypeptide of the invention or for use in the invention. Thus, in a further aspect the invention provides a process for preparing a polypeptide according to the invention which comprises cultivating a host cell transformed or transfected with an expression vector encoding the polypeptide, and recovering the expressed polypeptide.

[0074] The vectors may be for example, plasmid, virus or phage vectors provided with a origin of replication, optionally a promoter for the expression of the said polynucleotide and optionally a regulator of the promoter. The vectors may contain one or more selectable marker genes, for example an ampicillin resistance gene in the case of a bacterial plasmid or a resistance gene for a fungal vector. Vectors may be used in vitro, for example for the production of RNA or used to transfect or transform a host cell, for example, a mammalian host cell. The vectors may also be adapted to be used in vivo, for example in a method of gene therapy.

[0075] Promoters and other expression regulation signals may be selected to be compatible with the host cell for which expression is designed. For example, yeast promoters include S. cerevisiae GAL4 and ADH promoters, S. pombe nmt1 and adh promoter. Mammalian promoters include the metallothionein promoter which can be induced in response to heavy metals such as cadmium. Viral promoters such as the SV40 large T antigen promoter or adenovirus promoters may also be used. All these promoters are readily available in the art.

[0076] Mammalian promoters, such as β-actin promoters, may be used. Tissue-specific promoters, in particular endothelial or neuronal cell specific promoters (for example the DDAHI and DDAHII promoters), are especially preferred. Viral promoters may also be used, for example the Moloney murine leukaemia virus long terminal repeat (MMLV LTR), the rous sarcoma virus (RSV) LTR promoter, the SV40 promoter, the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) IE promoter, adenovirus, HSV promoters (such as the HSV IE promoters), or HPV promoters, particularly the HPV upstream regulatory region (URR). Viral promoters are readily available in the art.

[0077] The vector may further include sequences flanking the polynucleotide which comprise sequences homologous to eukaryotic genomic sequences, preferably mammalian genomic sequences, or viral genomic sequences. This will allow the introduction of the polynucleotides of the invention into the genome of eukaryotic cells or viruses by homologous recombination. In particular, a plasmid vector comprising the expression cassette flanked by viral sequences can be used to prepare a viral vector suitable for delivering the polynucleotides of the invention to a mammalian cell. Other examples of suitable viral vectors include herpes simplex viral vectors and retroviruses, including lentiviruses, adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses and HPV viruses (such as HPV-16 or HPV-18). Gene transfer techniques using these viruses are known to those skilled in the art. Retrovirus vectors for example may be used to stably integrate the polynucleotide giving rise to the antisense RNA into the host genome. Replication-defective adenovirus vectors by contrast remain episomal and therefore allow transient expression.

[0078] A further embodiment of the invention provides host cells transformed or transfected with the vectors for the replication and/or expression of polynucleotides of the invention. The cells will be chosen to be compatible with the said vector. Such cells include transient, or preferably stable higher eukaryotic cell lines, such as mammalian cells or insect cells, using for example a baculovirus expression system, lower eukaryotic cells, such as yeast or prokaryotic cells such as bacterial cells. Particular examples of cells which may be modified by insertion of vectors encoding for a polypeptide according to the invention include mammalian HEK293T, CHO, HeLa and COS cells. Preferably the cell line selected will be one which is not only stable, but also allows for mature glycosylation of a polypeptide. Expression may be achieved in transformed oocytes. A polypeptide of the invention may be overexpressed in bacterial cells, such as E. Coli, and isolated from the bacterial culture.

[0079] According to another aspect, the present invention may also use antibodies (either polyclonal or preferably monoclonal antibodies, chimeric, single chain, Fab fragments) which have been raised by standard techniques and are specific for a polypeptide of the invention. Such antibodies could for example, be useful in purification, isolation or screening methods involving immunoprecipitation techniques and may be used as tools to further elucidate the function of KIAA0253 or a variant thereof, or indeed as therapeutic agents in their own right. Antibodies may also be raised against specific epitopes of the proteins according to the invention. Such antibodies may be used to block ligand binding to the receptor. An antibody, or other compounds, “specifically binds” to a protein when it binds with preferential or high affinity to the protein for which it is specific but does not bind or binds with only low affinity to other proteins. A variety of protocols for competitive binding or immunoradiometric assays to determine the specific binding capability of an antibody are well known in the art (see for example Maddox et al 1993). Such immunoassays typically involve the formation of complexes between the “specific protein” and its antibody and the measurement of complex formation.

[0080] Antibodies of the invention may be antibodies to human polypeptides or fragments thereof. For the purposes of this invention, the term “antibody”, unless specified to the contrary, includes fragments which bind a polypeptide of the invention. Such fragments include Fv, F(ab′) and F(ab′)₂ fragments, as well as single chain antibodies. Furthermore, the antibodies and fragment thereof may be chimeric antibodies, CDR-grafted antibodies or humanised antibodies.

[0081] Antibodies may be used in a method for detecting polypeptides of the invention in a biological sample, which method comprises:

[0082] I providing an antibody of the invention;

[0083] II incubating a biological sample with said antibody under conditions which allow for the formation of an antibody-antigen complex; and

[0084] III determining whether antibody-antigen complex comprising said antibody is formed.

[0085] A sample may be for example a tissue extract, blood, serum and saliva. Antibodies of the invention may be bound to a solid support and/or packaged into kits in a suitable container along with suitable reagents, controls, instructions, etc. Antibodies may be linked to a revealing label and thus may be suitable for use in methods of in vivo KIAA0253 imaging. Antibodies of the invention can be produced by any suitable method. Means for preparing and characterising antibodies are well known in the art, see for example Harlow and Lane (1988) “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. For example, an antibody may be produced by raising antibody in a host animal against the whole polypeptide or a fragment thereof, for example an antigenic epitope thereof, herein after the “immunogen”.

[0086] A method for producing a polyclonal antibody comprises immunising a suitable host animal, for example an experimental animal, with the immunogen and isolating immunoglobulins from the animal's serum. The animal may therefore be inoculated with the immunogen, blood subsequently removed from the animal and the IgG fraction purified.

[0087] A method for producing a monoclonal antibody comprises immortalising cells which produce the desired antibody. Hybridoma cells may be produced by fusing spleen cells from an inoculated experimental animal with tumour cells (Kohler and Milstein (1975) Nature 256, 495-497).

[0088] An immortalized cell producing the desired antibody may be selected by a conventional procedure. The hybridomas may be grown in culture or injected intraperitoneally for formation of ascites fluid or into the blood stream of an allogenic host or immunocompromised host. Human antibody may be prepared by in vitro immunisation of human lymphocytes, followed by transformation of the lymphocytes with Epstein-Barr virus.

[0089] For the production of both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, the experimental animal is suitably a goat, rabbit, rat or mouse. If desired, the immunogen may be administered as a conjugate in which the immunogen is coupled, for example via a side chain of one of the amino acid residues, to a suitable carrier. The carrier molecule is typically a physiologically acceptable carrier. The antibody obtained may be isolated and, if desired, purified.

[0090] Assays

[0091] Any suitable assay format may be used for identifying a modulator of a presenilin, for example a modulator of a presenilin/KIAA0253 interaction. In a preferred aspect, the assay is a cell-based assay. Preferably the assay may be carried out in a single well of a microtitre plate. Assay formats which allow high throughput screening are preferred.

[0092] As the first step of the method for identifying a modulator of presenilin function, (a) a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant or fragment of either sequence capable of binding to a presenilin; (b) a presenilin or a variant or a fragment thereof capable of binding to KIAA0253; and (c) a test substance are contacted under conditions that would permit binding of (a) to (b) in the absence of a test substance. The activity of presenilin is then monitored. For example, the interaction between the polypeptide (a) and a presenilin (b) may be analysed. The interaction between the polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b) in the presence of a test substance may be compared with the interaction between the polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b) in the absence of the test substance to determine whether the test substance modulates the binding of polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b) and thereby whether the test substance enhances or inhibits the binding of a presenilin to KIAA0253.

[0093] As used herein, a polypeptide (a) is used to refer to KIAA0253 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or an isoform or variant thereof or a fragment of any thereof which is capable of binding to a presenilin, or to a variant or a fragment of presenilin which is capable of binding to KIAA0253.

[0094] The test substance can be contacted with a cell harbouring a polynucleotide or expression vector encoding a polypeptide (a) and a polynucleotide or expression vector encoding a presenilin (b). Optionally the cell may harbour a polynucleotide or expression vector encoding a test substance, wherein the test substance is a peptide. The cell typically allows transcription and translation of the polynucleotides or vectors so that the polypeptides are expressed in the same cell.

[0095] The test substance may be provided in the extracellular medium used for washing, incubating or growing the cell. The test substance may modulate the interaction of presenilin (b) with the polypeptide (a) indirectly from outside the cell, for example by interacting with an extracellular domain of presenilin or may be taken up into the cell from the extracellular medium. Where presenilin (b) and polypeptide (a) are coexpressed in a cell, the cell may express both proteins naturally, for example the cell may be a neuronal cell grown in a primary culture, or the cell may express both proteins recombinantly, or the cell may naturally express one protein and be transformed to express the other protein recombinantly.

[0096] The cell may be transiently or stably transfected or transformed. The polypeptide (a), presenilin (b) and the test substance (c) where it is a peptide may all be stably expressed. More preferably polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b) will be stably expressed and a test substance peptide will be transiently expressed. Where only polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b) are expressed by the cell they may both be transiently expressed, both stably expressed or one may be stably expressed and the other transiently expressed. Cells can be transfected by methods well known in the art, for example, by electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, lipofection or heat shock. The proteins may be expressed in mammalian cells such as human cells or non-mammalian cells such as yeast or bacteria. It is preferred that the cells are in culture. Preferred cell lines which may be used include HEK293, COS and PC12 cells.

[0097] A polypeptide (a) and a presenilin (b) can also be recombinantly expressed in different cells. These cells may be two different cultures of the same cell line or may be different cell lines. The cell lines may both be mammalian cells, bacterial cells or yeast cells or the two cell lines may be from different organisms, for example a polypeptide (a) may be expressed in a mammalian cell and a presenilin (b) in a bacterial cell. A cell expressing a polypeptide (a) or a cell lysate, a membrane preparation or a protein preparation derived from a cell expressing a polypeptide (a) can be contacted with a cell expressing a presenilin (b) or a cell homogenate, a cell lysate or a protein preparation from cells expressing presenilin (b). Similarly, where the test substance is a peptide or protein, an expression vector comprising a polypeptide encoding (c) can be singly transfected into a cell and the cell homogenate, cell lysate, membrane preparation or protein preparation from the transfected cell can be used in the assay.

[0098] The conditions which permit binding of a polypeptide (a) to a presenilin (b) in an extracellular environment can be determined by carrying out the assay in the absence of a test substance.

[0099] A number of biochemical and molecular cell biology protocols known in the art can be used to analyse the interaction of a polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b) (see for example Sambrook et al., 1989). Some specific examples are outlined below:

[0100] The presenilin/KIAA0253 interaction can be determined directly by incubating a radiolabelled polypeptide (a) with the presenilin and monitoring binding of the polypeptide (a) to the presenilin. Alternatively binding of radiolabelled presenilin to KIAA0253 polypeptide (a) may be monitored. Typically, the radiolabelled substance can be incubated with cell membranes containing the presenilin or KIAA0253 until equilibrium is reached. The membranes can then be separated from a non-bound substance and dissolved in scintillation fluid to allow the radioactive content to be determined by scintillation counting. Non-specific binding of the substance may also be determined by repeating the experiment in the presence of a saturating concentration of a non-radioactive polypeptide (a) or presenilin. Preferably a binding curve is constructed by repeating the experiment with various concentrations of the radiolabelled substance.

[0101] A yeast-2 hybrid assay system may be used. A polynucleotide encoding a presenilin, or fragment thereof capable of binding to KIAA0253 can be cloned into GAL4 binding domain vector (GAL4_(BD)) and a polynucleotide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant or fragment thereof capable of binding to a presenilin can be cloned into a GAL4 activation domain fusion vector (GAL4_(AD)). Alternatively, a polynucleotide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant or fragment thereof capable of binding to a presenilin can be cloned into GAL4_(BD) and a polynucleotide encoding a presenilin can be cloned into GAL4_(AD). GAL4_(AD) and GAL4_(BD) can then be expressed in yeast and the resulting β-galactosidase activity can be assayed and quantified using the substrate o-nitrophenol β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) using a liquid nitrogen freeze fracture regime as described by Harshman et al., 1998.

[0102] A “pull-down” assay system may also be used. A presenilin, or a variant or fragment thereof capable of binding a KIAA0253 can be run on a denaturing SDS polyacrylamide gel and transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane. Use of a fusion protein, such as a GST-fusion protein expressed and purified from E. coli, is preferred. The protein on the gel can then be renatured. A number of protocols for the refolding of denatured proteins are detailed in Marston (1987). In a parallel experiment, the position of the presenilin can be identified by immunoblotting using techniques well known in the art. A labelled polypeptide (a) capable of interacting with a presenilin, which may be present, for example, in a cell extract from cells transiently transfected with a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 2 capable of interacting with a presenilin grown in medium containing ³⁵S-methionine, can then be incubated with the nitrocellulose membrane. The test compound can be included in the incubation medium. After washing to remove non-specifically bound proteins, labelled KIAA0253 bound to the presenilin can be detected and quantified using, for example a phosphorimager or a scintillation counter. The assay can also be carried out by immobilizing the KIAA0253 and measuring the binding of a presenilin to the immobilized protein.

[0103] Alternatively, a presenilin or variant or fragment thereof capable of binding KIAA0253, a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant or fragment thereof capable of interacting with a presenilin may be immunoprecipitated, immunopurified or affinity purified from a cell extract of cells co-expressing a presenilin or fragment thereof and a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant or fragment of either sequence capable of binding to a presenilin. If the test substance is a polypeptide the cells may also co-express the test substance. Alternatively, the test substance may be provided in the cell growth medium. Coprecipitating/copurifying KIAA0253 or presenilins can then be detected, for example using Western blotting techniques or by radiolabelling recombinantly expressed proteins, and quantified using a phosphorimager or scintillation counter.

[0104] An important aspect of the present invention is the use of KIAA0253 polypeptides according to the invention in screening methods to identify compounds that may act as modulators of KIAA0253 activity and in particular compounds that may be useful in treating presenilin associated disease. Any suitable form may be used for the assay to identify a modulator of KIAA0253 activity. In general terms, such screening methods may involve contacting a polypeptide of the invention with a test compound and then measuring activity.

[0105] A ligand of KIAA0253 can be determined directly by incubating a radiolabelled test substance with the polypeptide (a) and monitoring binding of the test compound to the polypeptide. Typically, the radiolabelled test substance can be incubated with cell membranes containing the polypeptide until equilibrium is reached. The membranes can then be separated from a non-bound test substance and dissolved in scintillation fluid to allow the radioactive content to be determined by scintillation counting. Non-specific binding of the test substance may also be determined by repeating the experiment in the presence of a saturating concentration of a non-radioactive ligand. Preferably a binding curve is constructed by repeating the experiment with various concentrations of the test substance.

[0106] Modulator activity can be determined by contacting cells expressing a polypeptide (a) of the invention with a substance under investigation and by monitoring the effect mediated by the polypeptide. The cells expressing the polypeptide may be in vitro, for example in cultured cells, or in vivo. The polypeptide of the invention may be naturally or recombinantly expressed. Preferably, the assay is carried out in vitro using cells expressing recombinant polypeptide.

[0107] For each assay system a parallel control experiment (in which the substance to be tested is omitted) and experiments in which a test substance is included can be carried out. The results of the experiments using the test compound and the control experiments can be used to determine whether the test compound inhibits or enhances binding.

[0108] The substance tested may be tested with any other known receptor/interacting cytoplasmic protein combinations, for example presenilin and β-catenin, to exclude the possibility that the test substance is a general inhibitor of protein/protein interactions.

[0109] Where a variant or fragment of presenilin or KIAA0253 is used in the assay as the presenilin (b) or polypeptide (a), the assay is preferably run first in the absence of a test substance to ensure that the variant or fragment does not affect the activity of the presenilin or KIAA0253. The assays may also be carried out monitoring PS mediated signalling. For example, the step of monitoring presenilin activity may involve assessment of presenilin mediated signalling or processing or the effect of binding of presenilin to other proteins. For example the assay may involve determination of APP processing, Notch signalling, for example in early development, or the binding of presenilin to tau and a tau kinase.

[0110] Candidate Modulators

[0111] A modulator of presenilin or KIAA0253 function may exert its effect by binding directly to presenilin or KIAA0253 polypeptide or may have an upstream effect which prevents the presenilin/KIAA0253 interaction occurring, or presenilin or KIAA0253 mediated activity.

[0112] A modulator may directly inhibit the interaction of presenilin with KIAA0253 or inhibit interaction between KIAA0253 and a ligand. A candidate modulator may comprise a fragment of a KIAA0253 isoform capable of binding a presenilin or KIAA0253 ligand but lacking any functional activity. Alternatively, a candidate modulator may comprise a fragment of a presenilin capable of binding KIAA0253 but lacking any functional activity. Candidate molecules include N-terminal and C-terminal fragments of presenilin 1 or presenilin 2. Antibodies or antibody fragments, for example as defined herein, that specifically bind to presenilin or KIAA0253 or chemical compounds capable of binding these proteins are also candidate compounds.

[0113] Other suitable test substances include combinatorial libraries, defined chemical entities or compounds, peptide and peptide mimetics, oligonucleotides and natural product libraries, such as display libraries (e.g. phage display libraries).

[0114] Typically, organic molecules will be screened, preferably small organic molecules which have a molecular weight of from 50 to 2500 daltons. Candidate products can be biomolecules including, saccharides, fatty acids, steroids, purines, pyrimidines, derivatives, structural analogs or combinations thereof. Candidate agents are obtained from a wide variety of sources including libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. Known pharmacological agents may be subjected to directed or random chemical modifications, such as acylation, alkylation, esterification, amidification, etc. to produce structural analogs.

[0115] Test substances may be used in an initial screen of, for example, 10 substances per reaction, and the substances of these batches which show inhibition or activation tested individually. Test substances may be used at a concentration of from 1 nM to 10 mM, preferably from, 100 nM to 1000 μM or from 1 μM to 100 μM, more preferably from 1 μM to 10 μM.

[0116] Modulators

[0117] A modulator of presenilin activity which produces a measurable reduction or increase in KIAA0253 to presenilin in the assays described above, or an effect on presenilin activity or KIAA0253 mediated activity.

[0118] Preferred inhibitors are those which inhibit binding by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40% at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95% or at least 99% at a concentration of the inhibitor of 1 μg ml⁻¹, 10 μg ml⁻¹, 100 μg ml⁻¹, 500 μg ml⁻¹, 1 mg ml⁻¹, 10 mg ml⁻¹ or 100 mg ml⁻¹.

[0119] Preferred activators are those which activate binding by at least 10%, at least 25%, at least 50%, at least 100%, at least, 200%, at least 500% or at least 1000% at a concentration of the activator 1 μg ml⁻¹, 10 μg ml⁻¹ , 100 μg ml ⁻¹ , 500 μg ml ⁻¹, 1 mg ml⁻¹, 10 mg ml⁻¹ or 100 mg ml⁻¹.

[0120] The percentage inhibition or activation represents the percentage decrease or increase in expression/activity in a comparison of assays in the presence and absence of the test substance. Any combination of the above mentioned degrees of percentage inhibition or activation and concentration of inhibitor or activator may be used to define an inhibitor or activator of the invention, with greater inhibition or activation at lower concentrations being preferred.

[0121] Candidate substances which show activity in assays such as those described above can be tested in in vivo systems, an animal model. Candidate inhibitors could be tested for their ability to decrease presenilin mediated signalling, for example by interfering with development in C.Elegans or by interfering with APP processing.

[0122] Candidate activators could be tested for their ability to increase presenilin mediated signalling. Ultimately such substances would be tested in animal models of the target disease states.

[0123] Therapeutic Use

[0124] Modulators of presenilin/KIAA0253 or of presenilin activity or of KIAA0253 activity identified by the methods of the invention may be used for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disorder that is responsive to modulation of presenilin activity or KIAA0253.

[0125] In particular, neuronal disorders such as cognitive disorders including Alzheimer's disease may be treated. A modulator of presenilin or KIAA0253 activity may be used to alleviate the symptoms or to improve the condition of a patient suffering from such a disorder. A therapeutically effective amount of a modulator is an amount which is sufficient to alleviate one or more symptoms of a disorder or to improve the condition of a patient suffering from a disorder.

[0126] Modulators of presenilin or KIAA0253 activity may be useful in enhancing cognitive function. Hence, a therapeutically effective amount of a modulator may be an amount which is sufficient to produce an enhancement of cognitive function in a patient suffering from a neurodegenerative disorder. This may be useful in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or in enhancing cognitive function following injury to the brain.

[0127] KIAA0253 polypeptides and polynucleotides as described herein may also be used in the treatment or prophylaxis of such disorders.

[0128] Another aspect of the present invention is the use of polynucleotides encoding the KIAA0253 polypeptides of the invention to identify mutations in KIAA0253 genes which may be implicated in human disorders. Identification of such mutations may be used to assist in diagnosis of or susceptibility to Alzheimer's or other conditions associated with presenilin and in assessing the physiology of such disorders. Polynucleotides may also be used in hybridisation studies to monitor for expression of KIAA0253 genes and in particular for up or down regulation of KIAA0253 expression.

[0129] The present invention provides a method for assessing a disorder associated with abnormal presenilin function such as Alzheimer's disease by detecting variation in the expressed products encoded by a KIAA0253 gene. This may comprise determining the level of KIAA0253 expressed in cells or determining specific alterations in the expressed product. Sequences of interest for diagnostic purposes include, but are not limited to, the conserved portions as identified by sequence similarity and conservation of intron/exon structure. The diagnosis may be performed in conjunction with kindred studies to determine whether a mutation of interest co-segregates with disease phenotype in a family.

[0130] Diagnostic procedures may be performed on polynucleotides isolated from an individual or alternatively, may be performed in situ directly upon tissue sections (fixed and/or frozen) of patient tissue obtained from biopsies or resections, such that no nucleic acid purification is necessary. Appropriate procedures are described in, for example, Nuovo, G. J., 1992, “PCR In Situ Hybridization: Protocols And Applications”, Raven Press, NY). Such analysis techniques include DNA or RNA blotting analyses, single stranded conformational polymorphism analyses, in situ hybridization assays, and polymerase chain reaction analyses. Such analyses may reveal both quantitative aspects of the expression pattern of a KIAA0253. and qualitative aspects of KIAA0253 expression and/or composition.

[0131] Alternative diagnostic methods for the detection of KIAA0253 nucleic acid molecules may involve their amplification, e.g. by PCR (the experimental embodiment set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202), ligase chain reaction (Barany, 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:189-193), self sustained sequence replication (Guatelli et al., 1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:1874-1878), transcriptional amplification system (Kwoh et al., 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 15 USA 86:1173-1177), Q-Beta Replicase (Lizardi et al., 1988, Bio/Technology 6:1197) or any other nucleic acid amplification method. followed by the detection of the amplified molecules using techniques well known to those of skill in the art. These detection schemes are especially useful for the detection of nucleic acid molecules if such molecules are present in very low numbers.

[0132] Particularly suitable diagnostic methods are chip-based DNA technologies such as those described by Hacia et al., 1996, Nature Genetics 14:441-447 and Shoemaker et al., 1996, Nature Genetics 14:450-456. Briefly, these techniques involve quantitative methods for analyzing large numbers of nucleic acid sequence targets rapidly and accurately. By tagging with oligonucleotides or using fixed probe arrays, one can employ chip technology to segregate target molecules as high density arrays and screen these molecules on the basis of hybridization.

[0133] Following detection, the results seen in a given patient may be compared with a statistically significant reference group of normal patients and patients that have presenilin related pathologies. In this way, it is possible to correlate the amount or kind of KIAA0253 polypeptide detected with various clinical states or predisposition to clinical states.

[0134] Modulators may have to be administered to specific sites, or otherwise targeted to brain cells. For example, the modulator may be delivered to neurons. This may be achieved, for example, by delivery via a viral strain such as herpes simplex virus. Viral vectors comprising polynucleotides of the invention are described above. The vector may comprise a promoter or other regulatory sequence that is specific to certain neurons. When the polynucleotide of the invention is delivered to cells by a viral vector, the amount of virus administered is in the range of from 10⁶ to 10¹⁰ pfu, preferably from 10⁷ to 10⁹ pfu, more preferably about 10⁸ pfu for adenoviral vectors. When injected, typically 1-2 ml of virus in a pharmaceutically acceptable suitable carrier or diluent is administered.

[0135] Nucleic acid encoding KIAA0253 or a variant or fragment thereof which inhibits the presenilin/KIAA0253 interaction or other KIAA0253 activity may be administered to the mammal. Nucleic acid, such as RNA or DNA, and preferably, DNA, is provided in the form of a vector, such as the polynucleotides described above, which may be expressed in the cells of the mammal.

[0136] Nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide may be administered by any available technique. For example, the nucleic acid may be introduced by needle injection, preferably transdermally, intradermally, subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Alternatively, the nucleic acid may be delivered directly across the skin using a nucleic acid delivery device such as particle-mediated gene delivery. The nucleic acid may be administered topically to the skin, or to mucosal surfaces for example by intranasal, oral, intravaginal or intrarectal administration.

[0137] Uptake of nucleic acid constructs may be enhanced by several known transfection techniques, for example those including the use of transfection agents. Examples of these agents include cationic agents, for example, calcium phosphate and DEAE-Dextran and lipofectants, for example, lipofectam and transfectam. The dosage of the nucleic acid to be administered can be altered. Typically the nucleic acid is administered in the range of 1 pg to 1 mg, preferably to 1 pg to 10 μg nucleic acid for particle mediated gene delivery and 10 μg to 1 mg for other routes.

[0138] Where the polynucleotide giving rise to the product is under the control of an inducible promoter, it may only be necessary to induce gene expression for the duration of the treatment. Once the condition has been treated, the inducer is removed and expression of the polypeptide of the invention ceases. This will clearly have clinical advantages. Such a system may, for example, involve administering the antibiotic tetracycline, to activate gene expression via its effect on the tet repressor/VP16 fusion protein.

[0139] The use of tissue-specific promoters will be of assistance in the treatment of disease using the polypeptides, polynucleotide and vectors of the invention. It will be advantageous to be able express therapeutic genes in only the relevant affected cell types, especially where such genes are toxic when expressed in other cell types.

[0140] The routes of administration and dosages described above are intended only as a guide since a skilled physician will be able to determine readily the optimum route of administration and dosage for any particular patient and condition.

[0141] The following Examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Interaction of PS-1 and KIAA0253 in HEK293 Cells

[0142] The target protein human presenilin 1 (Accession Number L42110, Hugo Number PSEN1, Unigene Number Hs.3260) was amplified by PCR using primers GGAAGTGGAAGTGGCACAGAGTTACCTGCACCGTTGTCC and GGAGGTTGGATTGGCTTAGATATAAAA TTGATGGAATGC to give a 1439 bp PCR product. The PCR product was cloned into an expression vector such that a single HA tag (sequence AYPYDVPDYA) was inserted at the N-terminus. This construct was transfected into HEK293 cells that were expanded under conditions selecting for the expression construct. In a representative experiment, presenilin was immunoprecipitated from 65 mg of membrane-enriched fraction derived from approximately 10⁸ transfected cells. Antibodies used were 80 μg mouse monoclonal antibody HA11 (recognising the HA tag) (BABCO) or 30 μg rat monoclonal antibody to presenilin 1 (Chemicon mAb 1563). Immunoprecipitates were recovered using 200 μl of a 50/50 slurry of protein G sepharose (Pharmacia), resuspended in sample buffer, separated on a 4-20% tris glycine gel under non-reduced conditions and stained with colloidal Coomassie blue. Bands specific to the tagged cell line were excised and in gel digested with trypsin. All trysin digested peptides were subjected first to matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, and in a number of cases this was sufficient to make a positive identification by comparing peptide mass data with that predicted from non-redundant protein databases. In all cases peptides were further subjected to LC/MS/MS to further confirm the MALDI identification or to identify proteins not detected by MALDI-TOF, again using a non-redundant protein database. KIAA0253 was identified as interacting with presenilin 1.

EXAMPLE 2 Interaction of PS-1 and KIAA0253 in PC12 Cells, a Neuronal Cell Line

[0143] The HA tagged human presenilin construct described in Example 1 was transfected into PC12 cells. Stable transfectants were generated and expanded under conditions selecting for the expression construct. In a representative experiment presenilin-1 was affinity-purified from 75 mg of membrane-enriched fraction derived from approximately 10⁸ cells. Membrane extracts were prepared by homogenising cell pellets in a blender, taking the supernatant from a low-speed (1200 rpm/10 min) spin and subjecting it to a 100,000 g/60 min spin. The resulting membrane-enriched pellet was resuspended in extraction buffer and passed through a 26 g needle. The solution then made 1% with dodecyl maltoside and mixed for 1 hour at 4° C. The solution was then re-spun at 100,000 g for 30 mins to clear precipitating debris. The antibody used was mouse monoclonal antibody HA11 (recognising the HA tag) (BABCO) covalently linked to sepharose beads (Perbio aminolink). Membrane extract was incubated with sepharose-bound antibody overnight at 4° C. Beads were then washed 6 times with extraction buffer plus 0.4 mM dodecyl maltoside. Proteins that remained bound to the sepharose-antibody beads were then eluted with 100 μl sample buffer (Novex) and run on a pre-cast 4-12% ID SDS PAGE gel in MOPS buffer (Novex) under reducing conditions and stained with colloidal Coomassie blue. Bands specific to the tagged cell line were excised and in-gel digested with trypsin. Trypsin-digested peptides were subjected to LC/MS/MS for protein identification, using a non-redundant protein database. KIAA0253 was identified as interacting with presenilin 1.

EXAMPLE 3 Interaction of PS-1 with Nicastrin in a Reciprocal Immunoprecipitation

[0144] Experiment

[0145] The target protein KIAA0253 (accession number Q92542) was amplified by PCR using primers with sequences AGGAAGTGGAAGTGGCCACCATGGGCTACGGCAGGGGGTGG and GTAGGGGTAATTGGCGTATGACACAGCTCCTGGCTCC. The resulting PCR product was then cloned into an expression vector such that an 8 residue poly-histidine tag was inserted at the C-terminus. This construct was transfected into HEK293 cells and stable transfectants were generated and expanded under conditions selecting for the expression construct. In a representative experiment, His-tagged KIAA0253 was affinity-purified from 60 mg of membrane-enriched fraction derived from approximately 2×10⁷ cells as described in Example 2 that the antibody used was anti-his, covalently bound to sepharose beads (Perbio aminolink).

[0146] Presenilin-1 was identified as interacting with KIAA0253.

EXAMPLE 4 Co-localisation of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Marker PDI and KIAA0253 by Confocal Microscopy

[0147] In order to determine the subcellular localisation of the KIAA0253 protein, a rabbit polyclonal antiserum was raised to a synthetic peptide (sequence NSVERKIYIPC, where the C was added to facilitate peptide conjugation) derived from the KIAA0253 sequence. This antiserum was demonstrated to specifically recognise the KIAA0253 protein. HEK293 cells stably transfected with a His-tagged KIAA0253 construct (as Example 3 above) were processed for immunofluorescence and the KIAA0253 protein was visualized using the KIAA0253 antiserum (at 2.5 μg/μl) and Alexa488 conjugated goat anti-rabbit secondary antibody (Molecular Probes) at 20 μg/μl. The same cells were also exposed to one of a series of antibodies used as markers for individual subcellular compartments. The staining pattern of KIAA0253 overlapped with that of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) marker PDI. αPDI antibody was used at a 1/200 dilution in conjunction with an Alexa 568 goat anti-mouse secondary (Molecular Probes) antibody used at 20 μg/μl. The significant overlap between the distribution of PDI and KIA00253 is consistent with a large proportion of KIAA0253 protein being localised in the ER in vivo.

EXAMPLE 5 Co-localisation of PS-1 and KIAA0253 by Confocal Microscopy

[0148] In order to compare the subcellular distribution of the KIAA0253 protein with that of PS-1 rat PC12 cells were transiently co-transfected with His-tagged KIAA0253 and HA-tagged human PS-1 (constructs as described above). Cells were processed for immunofluorescence and the KIAA0253 protein was visualized using the KIAA0253 antiserum at 1 μg/μl and Alexa488 conjugated goat anti-rabbit secondary antibody (Molecular Probes) at 20 μg/μl. The same cells were also exposed to HA11 antibody to detect the HA-tagged PS-1. The staining pattern of KIAA0253 overlapped significantly but not completely with that of HA-tagged PS-1. The overlap between the distribution of PS-1 and KIA00253 is consistent with a significant proportion of KIAA0253 protein being localised in the same compartment as PS-1. This observation is consistent with our observation that these two proteins can be isolated together in a protein complex.

[0149] Supplementary Information

[0150] Yu et al. (2000) Nature 407: 48-54 was published after the priority date of the present application and replicates the present inventors' finding that presenilin binds KIAA0253 (which the authors of Yu et al. named nicastrin). In addition, by overexpressing mutant forms of KIAA0253 (nicastrin) in HEK293 cells also expressing amyloid precursor protein containing the Swedish mutation (APPsw), Yu et al. showed that mutation of the KIAA0253 (nicastrin) sequence DYIGS (which is conserved across species) results in increased secretion of Aβ, especially Aβ1-42, and that deletion of residues 312-369 or 312-340 (encompassing DYIGS) results in a reduction in Aβ secretion.

[0151] Yu et al. also demonstrated that presenilin-2 (PS-2) and APP interact with KIAA0253 (nicastrin) and that the interaction with APP is modulated by the status of PS-1. These results further support the present inventors' finding that KIAA0253 is implicated in Alzheimer's disease.

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200 205 Thr Phe Pro Leu Cys Ala Met Gln Leu Phe Ser His Met His Ala Val 210 215 220 Ile Ser Thr Ala Thr Cys Met Arg Arg Ser Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Phe 225 230 235 240 Ser Ile Asn Pro Glu Ile Val Cys Asp Pro Leu Ser Asp Tyr Asn Val 245 250 255 Trp Ser Met Leu Lys Pro Ile Asn Thr Thr Gly Thr Leu Lys Pro Asp 260 265 270 Asp Arg Val Val Val Ala Ala Thr Arg Leu Asp Ser Arg Ser Phe Phe 275 280 285 Trp Asn Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Glu Ser Ala Val Ala Ser Phe Val Thr 290 295 300 Gln Leu Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Leu Gln Lys Ala Pro Asp Val Thr Thr 305 310 315 320 Leu Pro Arg Asn Val Met Phe Val Phe Phe Gln Gly Glu Thr Phe Asp 325 330 335 Tyr Ile Gly Ser Ser Arg Met Val Tyr Asp Met Glu Lys Gly Lys Phe 340 345 350 Pro Val Gln Leu Glu Asn Val Asp Ser Phe Val Glu Leu Gly Gln Val 355 360 365 Ala Leu Arg Thr Ser Leu Glu Leu Trp Met His Thr Asp Pro Val Ser 370 375 380 Gln Lys Asn Glu Ser Val Arg Asn Gln Val Glu Asp Leu Leu Ala Thr 385 390 395 400 Leu Glu Lys Ser Gly Ala Gly Val Pro Ala Val Ile Leu Arg Arg Pro 405 410 415 Asn Gln Ser Gln Pro Leu Pro Pro Ser Ser Leu Gln Arg Phe Leu Arg 420 425 430 Ala Arg Asn Ile Ser Gly Val Val Leu Ala Asp His Ser Gly Ala Phe 435 440 445 His Asn Lys Tyr Tyr Gln Ser Ile Tyr Asp Thr Ala Glu Asn Ile Asn 450 455 460 Val Ser Tyr Pro Glu Trp Leu Ser Pro Glu Glu Asp Leu Asn Phe Val 465 470 475 480 Thr Asp Thr Ala Lys Ala Leu Ala Asp Val Ala Thr Val Leu Gly Arg 485 490 495 Ala Leu Tyr Glu Leu Ala Gly Gly Thr Asn Phe Ser Asp Thr Val Gln 500 505 510 Ala Asp Pro Gln Thr Val Thr Arg Leu Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Ile Lys 515 520 525 Ala Asn Asn Ser Trp Phe Gln Ser Ile Leu Arg Gln Asp Leu Arg Ser 530 535 540 Tyr Leu Gly Asp Gly Pro Leu Gln His Tyr Ile Ala Val Ser Ser Pro 545 550 555 560 Thr Asn Thr Thr Tyr Val Val Gln Tyr Ala Leu Ala Asn Leu Thr Gly 565 570 575 Thr Val Val Asn Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Cys Gln Asp Pro Ser Lys Val 580 585 590 Pro Ser Glu Asn Lys Asp Leu Tyr Glu Tyr Ser Trp Val Gln Gly Pro 595 600 605 Leu His Ser Asn Glu Thr Asp Arg Leu Pro Arg Cys Val Arg Ser Thr 610 615 620 Ala Arg Leu Ala Arg Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala Phe Glu Leu Ser Gln Trp 625 630 635 640 Ser Ser Thr Glu Tyr Ser Thr Trp Thr Glu Ser Arg Trp Lys Asp Ile 645 650 655 Arg Ala Arg Ile Phe Leu Ile Ala Ser Lys Glu Leu Glu Leu Ile Thr 660 665 670 Leu Thr Val Gly Phe Gly Ile Leu Ile Phe Ser Leu Ile Val Thr Tyr 675 680 685 Cys Ile Asn Ala Lys Ala Asp Val Leu Phe Ile Ala Pro Arg Glu Pro 690 695 700 Gly Ala Val Ser Tyr 705 2 2807 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(2130) 2 atg gct acg gca ggg ggt ggc tct ggg gct gac ccg gga agt cgg ggt 48 Met Ala Thr Ala Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Ala Asp Pro Gly Ser Arg Gly 1 5 10 15 ctc ctt cgc ctt ctg tct ttc tgc gtc cta cta gca ggt ttg tgc agg 96 Leu Leu Arg Leu Leu Ser Phe Cys Val Leu Leu Ala Gly Leu Cys Arg 20 25 30 gga aac tca gtg gag agg aag ata tat atc ccc tta aat aaa aca gct 144 Gly Asn Ser Val Glu Arg Lys Ile Tyr Ile Pro Leu Asn Lys Thr Ala 35 40 45 ccc tgt gtt cgc ctg ctc aac gcc act cat cag att ggc tgc cag tct 192 Pro Cys Val Arg Leu Leu Asn Ala Thr His Gln Ile Gly Cys Gln Ser 50 55 60 tca att agt gga gac aca ggg gtt atc cac gta gta gag aaa gag gag 240 Ser Ile Ser Gly Asp Thr Gly Val Ile His Val Val Glu Lys Glu Glu 65 70 75 80 gac cta cag tgg gta ttg act gat ggc ccc aac ccc cct tac atg gtt 288 Asp Leu Gln Trp Val Leu Thr Asp Gly Pro Asn Pro Pro Tyr Met Val 85 90 95 ctg ctg gag agc aag cat ttt acc agg gat tta atg gag aag ctg aaa 336 Leu Leu Glu Ser Lys His Phe Thr Arg Asp Leu Met Glu Lys Leu Lys 100 105 110 ggg aga acc agc cga att gct ggt ctt gca gtg tcc ttg acc aag ccc 384 Gly Arg Thr Ser Arg Ile Ala Gly Leu Ala Val Ser Leu Thr Lys Pro 115 120 125 agt cct gcc tca ggc ttc tct cct agt gta cag tgc cca aat gat ggg 432 Ser Pro Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Pro Ser Val Gln Cys Pro Asn Asp Gly 130 135 140 ttt ggt gtt tac tcc aat tcc tat ggg cca gag ttt gct cac tgc aga 480 Phe Gly Val Tyr Ser Asn Ser Tyr Gly Pro Glu Phe Ala His Cys Arg 145 150 155 160 gaa ata cag tgg aat tcg ctg ggc aat ggt ttg gct tat gaa gac ttt 528 Glu Ile Gln Trp Asn Ser Leu Gly Asn Gly Leu Ala Tyr Glu Asp Phe 165 170 175 agt ttc ccc atc ttt ctt ctt gaa gat gaa aat gaa acc aaa gtc atc 576 Ser Phe Pro Ile Phe Leu Leu Glu Asp Glu Asn Glu Thr Lys Val Ile 180 185 190 aag cag tgc tat caa gat cac aac ctg agt cag aat ggc tca gca cca 624 Lys Gln Cys Tyr Gln Asp His Asn Leu Ser Gln Asn Gly Ser Ala Pro 195 200 205 acc ttc cca cta tgt gcc atg cag ctc ttt tca cac atg cat gct gtc 672 Thr Phe Pro Leu Cys Ala Met Gln Leu Phe Ser His Met His Ala Val 210 215 220 atc agc act gcc acc tgc atg cgg cgc agc tcc atc caa agc acc ttc 720 Ile Ser Thr Ala Thr Cys Met Arg Arg Ser Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Phe 225 230 235 240 agc atc aac cca gaa atc gtc tgt gac ccc ctg tct gat tac aat gtg 768 Ser Ile Asn Pro Glu Ile Val Cys Asp Pro Leu Ser Asp Tyr Asn Val 245 250 255 tgg agc atg cta aag cct ata aat aca act ggg aca tta aag cct gac 816 Trp Ser Met Leu Lys Pro Ile Asn Thr Thr Gly Thr Leu Lys Pro Asp 260 265 270 gac agg gtt gtg gtt gct gcc acc cgg ctg gat agt cgt tcc ttt ttc 864 Asp Arg Val Val Val Ala Ala Thr Arg Leu Asp Ser Arg Ser Phe Phe 275 280 285 tgg aat gtg gcc cca ggg gct gaa agc gca gtg gct tcc ttt gtc acc 912 Trp Asn Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Glu Ser Ala Val Ala Ser Phe Val Thr 290 295 300 cag ctg gct gct gct gaa gct ttg caa aag gca cct gat gtg acc acc 960 Gln Leu Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Leu Gln Lys Ala Pro Asp Val Thr Thr 305 310 315 320 ctg ccc cgc aat gtc atg ttt gtc ttc ttt caa ggg gaa act ttt gac 1008 Leu Pro Arg Asn Val Met Phe Val Phe Phe Gln Gly Glu Thr Phe Asp 325 330 335 tac att ggc agc tcg agg atg gtc tac gat atg gag aag ggc aag ttt 1056 Tyr Ile Gly Ser Ser Arg Met Val Tyr Asp Met Glu Lys Gly Lys Phe 340 345 350 ccc gtg cag tta gag aat gtt gac tca ttt gtg gag ctg gga cag gtg 1104 Pro Val Gln Leu Glu Asn Val Asp Ser Phe Val Glu Leu Gly Gln Val 355 360 365 gcc tta aga act tca tta gag ctt tgg atg cac aca gat cct gtt tct 1152 Ala Leu Arg Thr Ser Leu Glu Leu Trp Met His Thr Asp Pro Val Ser 370 375 380 cag aaa aat gag tct gta cgg aac cag gtg gag gat ctc ctg gcc aca 1200 Gln Lys Asn Glu Ser Val Arg Asn Gln Val Glu Asp Leu Leu Ala Thr 385 390 395 400 ttg gag aag agt ggt gct ggt gtc cct gct gtc atc ctc agg agg cca 1248 Leu Glu Lys Ser Gly Ala Gly Val Pro Ala Val Ile Leu Arg Arg Pro 405 410 415 aat cag tcc cag cct ctc cca cca tct tcc ctg cag cga ttt ctt cga 1296 Asn Gln Ser Gln Pro Leu Pro Pro Ser Ser Leu Gln Arg Phe Leu Arg 420 425 430 gct cga aac atc tct ggc gtt gtt ctg gct gac cac tct ggt gcc ttc 1344 Ala Arg Asn Ile Ser Gly Val Val Leu Ala Asp His Ser Gly Ala Phe 435 440 445 cat aac aaa tat tac cag agt att tac gac act gct gag aac att aat 1392 His Asn Lys Tyr Tyr Gln Ser Ile Tyr Asp Thr Ala Glu Asn Ile Asn 450 455 460 gtg agc tat ccc gaa tgg ctg agc cct gaa gag gac ctg aac ttt gta 1440 Val Ser Tyr Pro Glu Trp Leu Ser Pro Glu Glu Asp Leu Asn Phe Val 465 470 475 480 aca gac act gcc aag gcc ctg gca gat gtg gcc acg gtg ctg gga cgt 1488 Thr Asp Thr Ala Lys Ala Leu Ala Asp Val Ala Thr Val Leu Gly Arg 485 490 495 gct ctg tat gag ctt gca gga gga acc aac ttc agc gac aca gtt cag 1536 Ala Leu Tyr Glu Leu Ala Gly Gly Thr Asn Phe Ser Asp Thr Val Gln 500 505 510 gct gat ccc caa acg gtt acc cgc ctg ctc tat ggg ttc ctg att aaa 1584 Ala Asp Pro Gln Thr Val Thr Arg Leu Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Ile Lys 515 520 525 gcc aac aac tca tgg ttc cag tct atc ctc agg cag gac cta agg tcc 1632 Ala Asn Asn Ser Trp Phe Gln Ser Ile Leu Arg Gln Asp Leu Arg Ser 530 535 540 tac ttg ggt gac ggg cct ctt caa cat tac atc gct gtc tcc agc ccc 1680 Tyr Leu Gly Asp Gly Pro Leu Gln His Tyr Ile Ala Val Ser Ser Pro 545 550 555 560 acc aac acc act tat gtt gta cag tat gcc ttg gca aat ttg act ggc 1728 Thr Asn Thr Thr Tyr Val Val Gln Tyr Ala Leu Ala Asn Leu Thr Gly 565 570 575 aca gtg gtc aac ctc acc cga gag cag tgc cag gat cca agt aaa gtc 1776 Thr Val Val Asn Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Cys Gln Asp Pro Ser Lys Val 580 585 590 cca agt gaa aac aag gat ctg tat gag tac tca tgg gtc cag ggc cct 1824 Pro Ser Glu Asn Lys Asp Leu Tyr Glu Tyr Ser Trp Val Gln Gly Pro 595 600 605 ttg cat tct aat gag acg gac cga ctc ccc cgg tgt gtg cgt tct act 1872 Leu His Ser Asn Glu Thr Asp Arg Leu Pro Arg Cys Val Arg Ser Thr 610 615 620 gca cga tta gcc agg gcc ttg tct cct gcc ttt gaa ctg agt cag tgg 1920 Ala Arg Leu Ala Arg Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala Phe Glu Leu Ser Gln Trp 625 630 635 640 agc tct act gaa tac tct aca tgg act gag agc cgc tgg aaa gat atc 1968 Ser Ser Thr Glu Tyr Ser Thr Trp Thr Glu Ser Arg Trp Lys Asp Ile 645 650 655 cgt gcc cgg ata ttt ctc atc gcc agc aaa gag ctt gag ttg atc acc 2016 Arg Ala Arg Ile Phe Leu Ile Ala Ser Lys Glu Leu Glu Leu Ile Thr 660 665 670 ctg aca gtg ggc ttc ggc atc ctc atc ttc tcc ctc atc gtc acc tac 2064 Leu Thr Val Gly Phe Gly Ile Leu Ile Phe Ser Leu Ile Val Thr Tyr 675 680 685 tgc atc aat gcc aaa gct gat gtc ctt ttc att gct ccc cgg gag cca 2112 Cys Ile Asn Ala Lys Ala Asp Val Leu Phe Ile Ala Pro Arg Glu Pro 690 695 700 gga gct gtg tca tac tga ggaggacccc agcttttctt gccagctcag 2160 Gly Ala Val Ser Tyr 705 cagttcactt cctagagcat ctgtcccact gggacacaac cactaatttg tcactggaac 2220 ctccctgggc ctgtctcaga ttgggattaa cataaaagag tggaactatc caaaagagac 2280 agggagaaat aaataaattg cctcccttcc tccgctcccc tttcccatca ccccttcccc 2340 atttcctctt ccttctctac tcatgccaga ttttgggatt acaaatagaa gcttcttgct 2400 cctgtttaac tccctagtta cccaccctaa tttgcccttc aggacccttc tactttttcc 2460 ttcctgccct gtacctctct ctgctcctca cccccacccc tgtacccagc caccttcctg 2520 actgggaagg acataaaagg tttaatgtca gggtcaaact acattgagcc cctgaggaca 2580 ggggcatctc tgggctgagc ctactgtctc cttcccactg tcctttctcc aggccctcag 2640 atggcacatt agggtgggcg tgctgcgggt gggtatccca cctccagccc acagtgctca 2700 gttgtacttt ttattaagct gtaatatcta tttttgtttt tgtctttttc ctttattctt 2760 tttgtaaata tatatataat gagtttcatt aaaatagatt atcccac 2807 3 676 PRT Homos sapiens 3 Asn Ser Val Glu Arg Lys Ile Tyr Ile Pro Leu Asn Lys Thr Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 Cys Val Arg Leu Leu Asn Ala Thr His Gln Ile Gly Cys Gln Ser Ser 20 25 30 Ile Ser Gly Asp Thr Gly Val Ile His Val Val Glu Lys Glu Glu Asp 35 40 45 Leu Gln Trp Val Leu Thr Asp Gly Pro Asn Pro Pro Tyr Met Val Leu 50 55 60 Leu Glu Ser Lys His Phe Thr Arg Asp Leu Met Glu Lys Leu Lys Gly 65 70 75 80 Arg Thr Ser Arg Ile Ala Gly Leu Ala Val Ser Leu Thr Lys Pro Ser 85 90 95 Pro Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Pro Ser Val Gln Cys Pro Asn Asp Gly Phe 100 105 110 Gly Val Tyr Ser Asn Ser Tyr Gly Pro Glu Phe Ala His Cys Arg Glu 115 120 125 Ile Gln Trp Asn Ser Leu Gly Asn Gly Leu Ala Tyr Glu Asp Phe Ser 130 135 140 Phe Pro Ile Phe Leu Leu Glu Asp Glu Asn Glu Thr Lys Val Ile Lys 145 150 155 160 Gln Cys Tyr Gln Asp His Asn Leu Ser Gln Asn Gly Ser Ala Pro Thr 165 170 175 Phe Pro Leu Cys Ala Met Gln Leu Phe Ser His Met His Ala Val Ile 180 185 190 Ser Thr Ala Thr Cys Met Arg Arg Ser Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Phe Ser 195 200 205 Ile Asn Pro Glu Ile Val Cys Asp Pro Leu Ser Asp Tyr Asn Val Trp 210 215 220 Ser Met Leu Lys Pro Ile Asn Thr Thr Gly Thr Leu Lys Pro Asp Asp 225 230 235 240 Arg Val Val Val Ala Ala Thr Arg Leu Asp Ser Arg Ser Phe Phe Trp 245 250 255 Asn Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Glu Ser Ala Val Ala Ser Phe Val Thr Gln 260 265 270 Leu Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Leu Gln Lys Ala Pro Asp Val Thr Thr Leu 275 280 285 Pro Arg Asn Val Met Phe Val Phe Phe Gln Gly Glu Thr Phe Asp Tyr 290 295 300 Ile Gly Ser Ser Arg Met Val Tyr Asp Met Glu Lys Gly Lys Phe Pro 305 310 315 320 Val Gln Leu Glu Asn Val Asp Ser Phe Val Glu Leu Gly Gln Val Ala 325 330 335 Leu Arg Thr Ser Leu Glu Leu Trp Met His Thr Asp Pro Val Ser Gln 340 345 350 Lys Asn Glu Ser Val Arg Asn Gln Val Glu Asp Leu Leu Ala Thr Leu 355 360 365 Glu Lys Ser Gly Ala Gly Val Pro Ala Val Ile Leu Arg Arg Pro Asn 370 375 380 Gln Ser Gln Pro Leu Pro Pro Ser Ser Leu Gln Arg Phe Leu Arg Ala 385 390 395 400 Arg Asn Ile Ser Gly Val Val Leu Ala Asp His Ser Gly Ala Phe His 405 410 415 Asn Lys Tyr Tyr Gln Ser Ile Tyr Asp Thr Ala Glu Asn Ile Asn Val 420 425 430 Ser Tyr Pro Glu Trp Leu Ser Pro Glu Glu Asp Leu Asn Phe Val Thr 435 440 445 Asp Thr Ala Lys Ala Leu Ala Asp Val Ala Thr Val Leu Gly Arg Ala 450 455 460 Leu Tyr Glu Leu Ala Gly Gly Thr Asn Phe Ser Asp Thr Val Gln Ala 465 470 475 480 Asp Pro Gln Thr Val Thr Arg Leu Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Ile Lys Ala 485 490 495 Asn Asn Ser Trp Phe Gln Ser Ile Leu Arg Gln Asp Leu Arg Ser Tyr 500 505 510 Leu Gly Asp Gly Pro Leu Gln His Tyr Ile Ala Val Ser Ser Pro Thr 515 520 525 Asn Thr Thr Tyr Val Val Gln Tyr Ala Leu Ala Asn Leu Thr Gly Thr 530 535 540 Val Val Asn Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Cys Gln Asp Pro Ser Lys Val Pro 545 550 555 560 Ser Glu Asn Lys Asp Leu Tyr Glu Tyr Ser Trp Val Gln Gly Pro Leu 565 570 575 His Ser Asn Glu Thr Asp Arg Leu Pro Arg Cys Val Arg Ser Thr Ala 580 585 590 Arg Leu Ala Arg Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala Phe Glu Leu Ser Gln Trp Ser 595 600 605 Ser Thr Glu Tyr Ser Thr Trp Thr Glu Ser Arg Trp Lys Asp Ile Arg 610 615 620 Ala Arg Ile Phe Leu Ile Ala Ser Lys Glu Leu Glu Leu Ile Thr Leu 625 630 635 640 Thr Val Gly Phe Gly Ile Leu Ile Phe Ser Leu Ile Val Thr Tyr Cys 645 650 655 Ile Asn Ala Lys Ala Asp Val Leu Phe Ile Ala Pro Arg Glu Pro Gly 660 665 670 Ala Val Ser Tyr 675 4 467 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met Thr Glu Leu Pro Ala Pro Leu Ser Tyr Phe Gln Asn Ala Gln Met 1 5 10 15 Ser Glu Asp Asn His Leu Ser Asn Thr Val Arg Ser Gln Asn Asp Asn 20 25 30 Arg Glu Arg Gln Glu His Asn Asp Arg Arg Ser Leu Gly His Pro Glu 35 40 45 Pro Leu Ser Asn Gly Arg Pro Gln Gly Asn Ser Arg Gln Val Val Glu 50 55 60 Gln Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Glu Glu Leu Thr Leu Lys Tyr Gly Ala Lys 65 70 75 80 His Val Ile Met Leu Phe Val Pro Val Thr Leu Cys Met Val Val Val 85 90 95 Val Ala Thr Ile Lys Ser Val Ser Phe Tyr Thr Arg Lys Asp Gly Gln 100 105 110 Leu Ile Tyr Thr Pro Phe Thr Glu Asp Thr Glu Thr Val Gly Gln Arg 115 120 125 Ala Leu His Ser Ile Leu Asn Ala Ala Ile Met Ile Ser Val Ile Val 130 135 140 Val Met Thr Ile Leu Leu Val Val Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Arg Cys Tyr Lys 145 150 155 160 Val Ile His Ala Trp Leu Ile Ile Ser Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Phe Phe 165 170 175 Phe Ser Phe Ile Tyr Leu Gly Glu Val Phe Lys Thr Tyr Asn Val Ala 180 185 190 Val Asp Tyr Ile Thr Val Ala Leu Leu Ile Trp Asn Phe Gly Val Val 195 200 205 Gly Met Ile Ser Ile His Trp Lys Gly Pro Leu Arg Leu Gln Gln Ala 210 215 220 Tyr Leu Ile Met Ile Ser Ala Leu Met Ala Leu Val Phe Ile Lys Tyr 225 230 235 240 Leu Pro Glu Trp Thr Ala Trp Leu Ile Leu Ala Val Ile Ser Val Tyr 245 250 255 Asp Leu Val Ala Val Leu Cys Pro Lys Gly Pro Leu Arg Met Leu Val 260 265 270 Glu Thr Ala Gln Glu Arg Asn Glu Thr Leu Phe Pro Ala Leu Ile Tyr 275 280 285 Ser Ser Thr Met Val Trp Leu Val Asn Met Ala Glu Gly Asp Pro Glu 290 295 300 Ala Gln Arg Arg Val Ser Lys Asn Ser Lys Tyr Asn Ala Glu Ser Thr 305 310 315 320 Glu Arg Glu Ser Gln Asp Thr Val Ala Glu Asn Asp Asp Gly Gly Phe 325 330 335 Ser Glu Glu Trp Glu Ala Gln Arg Asp Ser His Leu Gly Pro His Arg 340 345 350 Ser Thr Pro Glu Ser Arg Ala Ala Val Gln Glu Leu Ser Ser Ser Ile 355 360 365 Leu Ala Gly Glu Asp Pro Glu Glu Arg Gly Val Lys Leu Gly Leu Gly 370 375 380 Asp Phe Ile Phe Tyr Ser Val Leu Val Gly Lys Ala Ser Ala Thr Ala 385 390 395 400 Ser Gly Asp Trp Asn Thr Thr Ile Ala Cys Phe Val Ala Ile Leu Ile 405 410 415 Gly Leu Cys Leu Thr Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Ile Phe Lys Lys Ala Leu 420 425 430 Pro Ala Leu Pro Ile Ser Ile Thr Phe Gly Leu Val Phe Tyr Phe Ala 435 440 445 Thr Asp Tyr Leu Val Gln Pro Phe Met Asp Gln Leu Ala Phe His Gln 450 455 460 Phe Tyr Ile 465 5 2765 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (249)..(1652) 5 tgggacaggc agctccgggg tccgcggttt cacatcggaa acaaaacagc ggctggtctg 60 gaaggaacct gagctacgag ccgcggcggc agcggggcgg cggggaagcg tatacctaat 120 ctgggagcct gcaagtgaca acagcctttg cggtccttag acagcttggc ctggaggaga 180 acacatgaaa gaaagaacct caagaggctt tgttttctgt gaaacagtat ttctatacag 240 ttgctcca atg aca gag tta cct gca ccg ttg tcc tac ttc cag aat gca 290 Met Thr Glu Leu Pro Ala Pro Leu Ser Tyr Phe Gln Asn Ala 1 5 10 cag atg tct gag gac aac cac ctg agc aat act gta cgt agc cag aat 338 Gln Met Ser Glu Asp Asn His Leu Ser Asn Thr Val Arg Ser Gln Asn 15 20 25 30 gac aat aga gaa cgg cag gag cac aac gac aga cgg agc ctt ggc cac 386 Asp Asn Arg Glu Arg Gln Glu His Asn Asp Arg Arg Ser Leu Gly His 35 40 45 cct gag cca tta tct aat gga cga ccc cag ggt aac tcc cgg cag gtg 434 Pro Glu Pro Leu Ser Asn Gly Arg Pro Gln Gly Asn Ser Arg Gln Val 50 55 60 gtg gag caa gat gag gaa gaa gat gag gag ctg aca ttg aaa tat ggc 482 Val Glu Gln Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Glu Glu Leu Thr Leu Lys Tyr Gly 65 70 75 gcc aag cat gtg atc atg ctc ttt gtc cct gtg act ctc tgc atg gtg 530 Ala Lys His Val Ile Met Leu Phe Val Pro Val Thr Leu Cys Met Val 80 85 90 gtg gtc gtg gct acc att aag tca gtc agc ttt tat acc cgg aag gat 578 Val Val Val Ala Thr Ile Lys Ser Val Ser Phe Tyr Thr Arg Lys Asp 95 100 105 110 ggg cag cta atc tat acc cca ttc aca gaa gat acc gag act gtg ggc 626 Gly Gln Leu Ile Tyr Thr Pro Phe Thr Glu Asp Thr Glu Thr Val Gly 115 120 125 cag aga gcc ctg cac tca att ctg aat gct gcc atc atg atc agt gtc 674 Gln Arg Ala Leu His Ser Ile Leu Asn Ala Ala Ile Met Ile Ser Val 130 135 140 att gtt gtc atg act atc ctc ctg gtg gtt ctg tat aaa tac agg tgc 722 Ile Val Val Met Thr Ile Leu Leu Val Val Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Arg Cys 145 150 155 tat aag gtc atc cat gcc tgg ctt att ata tca tct cta ttg ttg ctg 770 Tyr Lys Val Ile His Ala Trp Leu Ile Ile Ser Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu 160 165 170 ttc ttt ttt tca ttc att tac ttg ggg gaa gtg ttt aaa acc tat aac 818 Phe Phe Phe Ser Phe Ile Tyr Leu Gly Glu Val Phe Lys Thr Tyr Asn 175 180 185 190 gtt gct gtg gac tac att act gtt gca ctc ctg atc tgg aat ttt ggt 866 Val Ala Val Asp Tyr Ile Thr Val Ala Leu Leu Ile Trp Asn Phe Gly 195 200 205 gtg gtg gga atg att tcc att cac tgg aaa ggt cca ctt cga ctc cag 914 Val Val Gly Met Ile Ser Ile His Trp Lys Gly Pro Leu Arg Leu Gln 210 215 220 cag gca tat ctc att atg att agt gcc ctc atg gcc ctg gtg ttt atc 962 Gln Ala Tyr Leu Ile Met Ile Ser Ala Leu Met Ala Leu Val Phe Ile 225 230 235 aag tac ctc cct gaa tgg act gcg tgg ctc atc ttg gct gtg att tca 1010 Lys Tyr Leu Pro Glu Trp Thr Ala Trp Leu Ile Leu Ala Val Ile Ser 240 245 250 gta tat gat tta gtg gct gtt ttg tgt ccg aaa ggt cca ctt cgt atg 1058 Val Tyr Asp Leu Val Ala Val Leu Cys Pro Lys Gly Pro Leu Arg Met 255 260 265 270 ctg gtt gaa aca gct cag gag aga aat gaa acg ctt ttt cca gct ctc 1106 Leu Val Glu Thr Ala Gln Glu Arg Asn Glu Thr Leu Phe Pro Ala Leu 275 280 285 att tac tcc tca aca atg gtg tgg ttg gtg aat atg gca gaa gga gac 1154 Ile Tyr Ser Ser Thr Met Val Trp Leu Val Asn Met Ala Glu Gly Asp 290 295 300 ccg gaa gct caa agg aga gta tcc aaa aat tcc aag tat aat gca gaa 1202 Pro Glu Ala Gln Arg Arg Val Ser Lys Asn Ser Lys Tyr Asn Ala Glu 305 310 315 agc aca gaa agg gag tca caa gac act gtt gca gag aat gat gat ggc 1250 Ser Thr Glu Arg Glu Ser Gln Asp Thr Val Ala Glu Asn Asp Asp Gly 320 325 330 ggg ttc agt gag gaa tgg gaa gcc cag agg gac agt cat cta ggg cct 1298 Gly Phe Ser Glu Glu Trp Glu Ala Gln Arg Asp Ser His Leu Gly Pro 335 340 345 350 cat cgc tct aca cct gag tca cga gct gct gtc cag gaa ctt tcc agc 1346 His Arg Ser Thr Pro Glu Ser Arg Ala Ala Val Gln Glu Leu Ser Ser 355 360 365 agt atc ctc gct ggt gaa gac cca gag gaa agg gga gta aaa ctt gga 1394 Ser Ile Leu Ala Gly Glu Asp Pro Glu Glu Arg Gly Val Lys Leu Gly 370 375 380 ttg gga gat ttc att ttc tac agt gtt ctg gtt ggt aaa gcc tca gca 1442 Leu Gly Asp Phe Ile Phe Tyr Ser Val Leu Val Gly Lys Ala Ser Ala 385 390 395 aca gcc agt gga gac tgg aac aca acc ata gcc tgt ttc gta gcc ata 1490 Thr Ala Ser Gly Asp Trp Asn Thr Thr Ile Ala Cys Phe Val Ala Ile 400 405 410 tta att ggt ttg tgc ctt aca tta tta ctc ctt gcc att ttc aag aaa 1538 Leu Ile Gly Leu Cys Leu Thr Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Ile Phe Lys Lys 415 420 425 430 gca ttg cca gct ctt cca atc tcc atc acc ttt ggg ctt gtt ttc tac 1586 Ala Leu Pro Ala Leu Pro Ile Ser Ile Thr Phe Gly Leu Val Phe Tyr 435 440 445 ttt gcc aca gat tat ctt gta cag cct ttt atg gac caa tta gca ttc 1634 Phe Ala Thr Asp Tyr Leu Val Gln Pro Phe Met Asp Gln Leu Ala Phe 450 455 460 cat caa ttt tat atc tag catatttgcg gttagaatcc catggatgtt 1682 His Gln Phe Tyr Ile 465 tcttctttga ctataaccaa atctggggag gacaaaggtg attttcctgt gtccacatct 1742 aacaaagtca agattcccgg ctggactttt gcagcttcct tccaagtctt cctgaccacc 1802 ttgcactatt ggactttgga aggaggtgcc tatagaaaac gattttgaac atacttcatc 1862 gcagtggact gtgtccctcg gtgcagaaac taccagattt gagggacgag gtcaaggaga 1922 tatgataggc ccggaagttg ctgtgcccca tcagcagctt gacgcgtggt cacaggacga 1982 tttcactgac actgcgaact ctcaggacta ccggttacca agaggttagg tgaagtggtt 2042 taaaccaaac ggaactcttc atcttaaact acacgttgaa aatcaaccca ataattctgt 2102 attaactgaa ttctgaactt ttcaggaggt actgtgagga agagcaggca ccagcagcag 2162 aatggggaat ggagaggtgg gcaggggttc cagcttccct ttgatttttt gctgcagact 2222 catccttttt aaatgagact tgttttcccc tctctttgag tcaagtcaaa tatgtagatt 2282 gcctttggca attcttcttc tcaagcactg acactcatta ccgtctgtga ttgccatttc 2342 ttcccaaggc cagtctgaac ctgaggttgc tttatcctaa aagttttaac ctcaggttcc 2402 aaattcagta aattttggaa acagtacagc tatttctcat caattctcta tcatgttgaa 2462 gtcaaatttg gattttccac caaattctga atttgtagac atacttgtac gctcacttgc 2522 ccccagatgc ctcctctgtc ctcattcttc tctcccacac aagcagtctt tttctacagc 2582 cagtaaggca gctctgtcrt ggtagcagat ggtcccatta ttctagggtc ttactctttg 2642 tatgatgaaa agaatgtgtt atgaatcggt gctgtcagcc ctgctgtcag accttcttcc 2702 acagcaaatg agatgtatgc ccaaagcggt agaattaaag aagagtaaaa tggctgttga 2762 agc 2765 6 448 PRT Homo sapiens 6 Met Leu Thr Phe Met Ala Ser Asp Ser Glu Glu Glu Val Cys Asp Glu 1 5 10 15 Arg Thr Ser Leu Met Ser Ala Glu Ser Pro Thr Pro Arg Ser Cys Gln 20 25 30 Glu Gly Arg Gln Gly Pro Glu Asp Gly Glu Asn Thr Ala Gln Trp Arg 35 40 45 Ser Gln Glu Asn Glu Glu Asp Gly Glu Glu Asp Pro Asp Arg Tyr Val 50 55 60 Cys Ser Gly Val Pro Gly Arg Pro Pro Gly Leu Glu Glu Glu Leu Thr 65 70 75 80 Leu Lys Tyr Gly Ala Lys His Val Ile Met Leu Phe Val Pro Val Thr 85 90 95 Leu Cys Met Ile Val Val Val Ala Thr Ile Lys Ser Val Arg Phe Tyr 100 105 110 Thr Glu Lys Asn Gly Gln Leu Ile Tyr Thr Thr Phe Thr Glu Asp Thr 115 120 125 Pro Ser Val Gly Gln Arg Leu Leu Asn Ser Val Leu Asn Thr Leu Ile 130 135 140 Met Ile Ser Val Ile Val Val Met Thr Ile Phe Leu Val Val Leu Tyr 145 150 155 160 Lys Tyr Arg Cys Tyr Lys Phe Ile His Gly Trp Leu Ile Met Ser Ser 165 170 175 Leu Met Leu Leu Phe Leu Phe Thr Tyr Ile Tyr Leu Gly Glu Val Leu 180 185 190 Lys Thr Tyr Asn Val Ala Met Asp Tyr Pro Thr Leu Leu Leu Thr Val 195 200 205 Trp Asn Phe Gly Ala Val Gly Met Val Cys Ile His Trp Lys Gly Pro 210 215 220 Leu Val Leu Gln Gln Ala Tyr Leu Ile Met Ile Ser Ala Leu Met Ala 225 230 235 240 Leu Val Phe Ile Lys Tyr Leu Pro Glu Trp Ser Ala Trp Val Ile Leu 245 250 255 Gly Ala Ile Ser Val Tyr Asp Leu Val Ala Val Leu Cys Pro Lys Gly 260 265 270 Pro Leu Arg Met Leu Val Glu Thr Ala Gln Glu Arg Asn Glu Pro Ile 275 280 285 Phe Pro Ala Leu Ile Tyr Ser Ser Ala Met Val Trp Thr Val Gly Met 290 295 300 Ala Lys Leu Asp Pro Ser Ser Gln Gly Ala Leu Gln Leu Pro Tyr Asp 305 310 315 320 Pro Glu Met Glu Glu Asp Ser Tyr Asp Ser Phe Gly Glu Pro Ser Tyr 325 330 335 Pro Glu Val Phe Glu Pro Pro Leu Thr Gly Tyr Pro Gly Glu Glu Leu 340 345 350 Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Arg Gly Val Lys Leu Gly Leu Gly Asp Phe Ile 355 360 365 Phe Tyr Ser Val Leu Val Gly Lys Ala Ala Ala Thr Gly Ser Gly Asp 370 375 380 Trp Asn Thr Thr Leu Ala Cys Phe Val Ala Ile Leu Ile Gly Leu Cys 385 390 395 400 Leu Thr Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Val Phe Lys Lys Ala Leu Pro Ala Leu 405 410 415 Pro Ile Ser Ile Thr Phe Gly Leu Ile Phe Tyr Phe Ser Thr Asp Asn 420 425 430 Leu Val Arg Pro Phe Met Asp Thr Leu Ala Ser His Gln Leu Tyr Ile 435 440 445 7 2236 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (368)..(1714) 7 cgagcggcgg cggagcaggc atttccagca gtgaggagac agccagaagc aagctattgg 60 agctgaagga acctgagaca gaagctagtc ccccctctga attttactga tgaagaaact 120 gaggccacag agctaaagtg acttttccca aggtcgccca gcgaggacgt gggacttctc 180 agacgtcagg agagtgatgt gagggagctg tgtgaccata gaaagtgacg tgttaaaaac 240 cagcgctgcc ctctttgaaa gccagggagc atcattcatt tagcctgctg agaagaagaa 300 accaagtgtc cgggattcag acctctctgc ggccccaagt gttcgtggtg cttccagagg 360 cagggct atg ctc aca ttc atg gcc tct gac agc gag gaa gaa gtg tgt 409 Met Leu Thr Phe Met Ala Ser Asp Ser Glu Glu Glu Val Cys 1 5 10 gat gag cgg acg tcc cta atg tcg gcc gag agc ccc acg ccg cgc tcc 457 Asp Glu Arg Thr Ser Leu Met Ser Ala Glu Ser Pro Thr Pro Arg Ser 15 20 25 30 tgc cag gag ggc agg cag ggc cca gag gat gga gag aac act gcc cag 505 Cys Gln Glu Gly Arg Gln Gly Pro Glu Asp Gly Glu Asn Thr Ala Gln 35 40 45 tgg aga agc cag gag aac gag gag gac ggt gag gag gac cct gac cgc 553 Trp Arg Ser Gln Glu Asn Glu Glu Asp Gly Glu Glu Asp Pro Asp Arg 50 55 60 tat gtc tgt agt ggg gtt ccc ggg cgg ccg cca ggc ctg gag gaa gag 601 Tyr Val Cys Ser Gly Val Pro Gly Arg Pro Pro Gly Leu Glu Glu Glu 65 70 75 ctg acc ctc aaa tac gga gcg aag cac gtg atc atg ctg ttt gtg cct 649 Leu Thr Leu Lys Tyr Gly Ala Lys His Val Ile Met Leu Phe Val Pro 80 85 90 gtc act ctg tgc atg atc gtg gtg gta gcc acc atc aag tct gtg cgc 697 Val Thr Leu Cys Met Ile Val Val Val Ala Thr Ile Lys Ser Val Arg 95 100 105 110 ttc tac aca gag aag aat gga cag ctc atc tac acg aca ttc act gag 745 Phe Tyr Thr Glu Lys Asn Gly Gln Leu Ile Tyr Thr Thr Phe Thr Glu 115 120 125 gac aca ccc tcg gtg ggc cag cgc ctc ctc aac tcc gtg ctg aac acc 793 Asp Thr Pro Ser Val Gly Gln Arg Leu Leu Asn Ser Val Leu Asn Thr 130 135 140 ctc atc atg atc agc gtc atc gtg gtt atg acc atc ttc ttg gtg gtg 841 Leu Ile Met Ile Ser Val Ile Val Val Met Thr Ile Phe Leu Val Val 145 150 155 ctc tac aag tac cgc tgc tac aag ttc atc cat ggc tgg ttg atc atg 889 Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Arg Cys Tyr Lys Phe Ile His Gly Trp Leu Ile Met 160 165 170 tct tca ctg atg ctg ctg ttc ctc ttc acc tat atc tac ctt ggg gaa 937 Ser Ser Leu Met Leu Leu Phe Leu Phe Thr Tyr Ile Tyr Leu Gly Glu 175 180 185 190 gtg ctc aag acc tac aat gtg gcc atg gac tac ccc acc ctc ttg ctg 985 Val Leu Lys Thr Tyr Asn Val Ala Met Asp Tyr Pro Thr Leu Leu Leu 195 200 205 act gtc tgg aac ttc ggg gca gtg ggc atg gtg tgc atc cac tgg aag 1033 Thr Val Trp Asn Phe Gly Ala Val Gly Met Val Cys Ile His Trp Lys 210 215 220 ggc cct ctg gtg ctg cag cag gcc tac ctc atc atg atc agt gcg ctc 1081 Gly Pro Leu Val Leu Gln Gln Ala Tyr Leu Ile Met Ile Ser Ala Leu 225 230 235 atg gcc cta gtg ttc atc aag tac ctc cca gag tgg tcc gcg tgg gtc 1129 Met Ala Leu Val Phe Ile Lys Tyr Leu Pro Glu Trp Ser Ala Trp Val 240 245 250 atc ctg ggc gcc atc tct gtg tat gat ctc gtg gct gtg ctg tgt ccc 1177 Ile Leu Gly Ala Ile Ser Val Tyr Asp Leu Val Ala Val Leu Cys Pro 255 260 265 270 aaa ggg cct ctg aga atg ctg gta gaa act gcc cag gag aga aat gag 1225 Lys Gly Pro Leu Arg Met Leu Val Glu Thr Ala Gln Glu Arg Asn Glu 275 280 285 ccc ata ttc cct gcc ctg ata tac tca tct gcc atg gtg tgg acg gtt 1273 Pro Ile Phe Pro Ala Leu Ile Tyr Ser Ser Ala Met Val Trp Thr Val 290 295 300 ggc atg gcg aag ctg gac ccc tcc tct cag ggt gcc ctc cag ctc ccc 1321 Gly Met Ala Lys Leu Asp Pro Ser Ser Gln Gly Ala Leu Gln Leu Pro 305 310 315 tac gac ccg gag atg gaa gaa gac tcc tat gac agt ttt ggg gag cct 1369 Tyr Asp Pro Glu Met Glu Glu Asp Ser Tyr Asp Ser Phe Gly Glu Pro 320 325 330 tca tac ccc gaa gtc ttt gag cct ccc ttg act ggc tac cca ggg gag 1417 Ser Tyr Pro Glu Val Phe Glu Pro Pro Leu Thr Gly Tyr Pro Gly Glu 335 340 345 350 gag ctg gag gaa gag gag gaa agg ggc gtg aag ctt ggc ctc ggg gac 1465 Glu Leu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Arg Gly Val Lys Leu Gly Leu Gly Asp 355 360 365 ttc atc ttc tac agt gtg ctg gtg ggc aag gcg gct gcc acg ggc agc 1513 Phe Ile Phe Tyr Ser Val Leu Val Gly Lys Ala Ala Ala Thr Gly Ser 370 375 380 ggg gac tgg aat acc acg ctg gcc tgc ttc gtg gcc atc ctc att ggc 1561 Gly Asp Trp Asn Thr Thr Leu Ala Cys Phe Val Ala Ile Leu Ile Gly 385 390 395 ttg tgt ctg acc ctc ctg ctg ctt gct gtg ttc aag aag gcg ctg ccc 1609 Leu Cys Leu Thr Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Val Phe Lys Lys Ala Leu Pro 400 405 410 gcc ctc ccc atc tcc atc acg ttc ggg ctc atc ttt tac ttc tcc acg 1657 Ala Leu Pro Ile Ser Ile Thr Phe Gly Leu Ile Phe Tyr Phe Ser Thr 415 420 425 430 gac aac ctg gtg cgg ccg ttc atg gac acc ctg gcc tcc cat cag ctc 1705 Asp Asn Leu Val Arg Pro Phe Met Asp Thr Leu Ala Ser His Gln Leu 435 440 445 tac atc tga gggacatggt gtgccacagg ctgcaagctg cagggaattt 1754 Tyr Ile tcattggatg cagttgtata gttttacact ctagtgccat atatttttaa gacttttctt 1814 tccttaaaaa ataaagtacg tgtttacttg gtgaggagga ggcagaacca gctctttggt 1874 gccagctgtt tcatcaccag actttggctc ccgctttggg gagcgcctcg cttcacggac 1934 aggaagcaca gcaggtttat ccagatgaac tgagaaggtc agattagggc ggggagaaga 1994 gcatccggca tgagggctga gatgcgcaaa gagtgtgctc gggagtggcc cctggcacct 2054 gggtgctctg gctggagagg aaaagccagt tccctacgag gagtgttccc aatgctttgt 2114 ccatgatgtc cttgttattt tattgccttt agaaactgag tcctgttctt gttacggcag 2174 tcacactgct gggaagtggc ttaatagtaa tatcaataaa tagatgagtc ctgttagaaa 2234 aa 2236 

1. A method of identifying a modulator of presenilin function, the method comprising: (i) providing (a) a polypeptide capable of binding a presenilin, which polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functional variant thereof, or a fragment of either thereof which is capable of binding to presenilin; (b) a presenilin or a variant thereof or fragment of either thereof capable of binding to a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) a test substance under conditions that would permit binding of a polypeptide (a) to a presenilin (b) in the absence of the test substance; (ii) monitoring presenilin mediated activity; and (iii) determining thereby whether the test substance is a modulator of presenilin activity.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (ii) comprises monitoring the interaction between polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b).
 3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the modulator inhibits the binding of the polypeptide (a) to the presenilin (b).
 4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the modulator enhances the binding of the polypeptide (a) to the presenilin (b).
 5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the presenilin (b) is presenilin 1 or a said fragment thereof.
 6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein step (i) comprises: (a) transfecting a cell with polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide (a) and a presenilin (b); (b) allowing the said cell to express the polypeptide (a) and presenilin (b); and (c) contacting the said cell with a test substance.
 7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein step (i) comprises: (a) transfecting a cell with polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide(a), a presenilin (b) and a test substance (c) which is a peptide and (b) allowing the said cell to express the polypeptide (a), presenilin (b) and the peptide test substance (c).
 8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein step (i) comprises: (a) transfecting a first cell with a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide (a); (b) transfecting a second cell with a polynucleotide encoding a presenilin(b); (c) allowing said first cell to express the polypeptide(a) and said second cell to express the presenilin (b); (d) preparing a cell extract from each of said first and second cell; and (e) contacting said cell extract from first cell and said cell extract from second cell in the presence of a test substance.
 9. A method for identification of a compound that modulates KIAA0253 activity, which method comprises: (i) contacting a KIAA0253 polypeptide comprising (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; or (b) a variant thereof or a fragment of either thereof which maintains a KIAA0253 function; with a test compound and (ii) monitoring for KIAA0253 activity thereby determining whether the test compound is a modulator of KIAA0253.
 10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the KIAA0253 activity comprises the ability of the polypeptide to interact with a presenilin, or a variant thereof or a fragment of either thereof. 